The scandal surrounding the dismissal at Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona (TMB) has become a significant event for residents of Catalonia. Issues of transparency and employee rights protection in state-owned companies have again come to the forefront. This situation may influence approaches to internal investigations and the relationship between management and staff in large Spanish organizations.
Former TMB compliance director Carmen Macías was dismissed on April 2, 2024. Several months earlier, she had launched an internal investigation into a complaint about bullying by three top managers at the company responsible for Barcelona’s transport. According to El Pais, Macías has filed two lawsuits: a criminal case against two executives, including current CEO Xavier Flores, and a labor lawsuit against the company itself to get her job back. She is convinced that her dismissal was a response to her attempts to address employee complaints.
At a press conference, Macías stated that TMB had offered her the chance to acknowledge wrongful termination and receive compensation, but she refused, emphasizing that restoring her reputation and returning to work were more important to her. Her lawyer, Paco Pérez, detailed a chronology of events: Macías was appointed on December 18, 2023; one of the accused was questioned on March 27; she was suspended on April 2; and officially dismissed on June 7. Notably, by the time of her dismissal, Macías had already been granted protected whistleblower status by the Catalonian Anti-Fraud Office (OAC) on May 14, 2024.
TMB’s response and the unions’ position
The TMB management denies allegations of pressure and claims that the dismissal is linked to a structural reorganization initiated by Flores after one hundred days in office. According to company representatives, Macias was removed from only one position, retaining other responsibilities, and the final dismissal followed an independent investigation conducted by the private firm GSM. This investigation was launched without a tender due to the urgency of the situation, which arose after an employee filed a harassment complaint.
The unions present at the press conference demanded the resignation of TMB president Laia Bonet and Xavier Flores. They argue that the management’s actions undermine trust in the internal control system and create a dangerous precedent for all municipal company employees.
Macias also faced counter-allegations of harassment, which she claims were made to justify her dismissal. She states that the complainant did not meet the requirements for the position, and the complaint itself lacked specific details. Macias emphasizes that independence and autonomy were fundamental to her work, and before this case, she had not encountered obstacles in handling similar matters.
Legal proceedings and consequences
As a result of the lawsuits filed, a criminal case against Flores, the HR director, and a TMB lawyer is being heard in a Barcelona court. Masías insists that her dismissal was an attempt to influence the course of the internal investigation. She claims that back on April 2, she was informed of the intention to fire her, but she reminded them that such a decision should be made by the board of directors.
The company, in turn, refers to the results of an external investigation during which 14 witnesses were interviewed, and the accusations of harassment were deemed very serious. According to El País, TMB claims it did not attempt to negotiate compensation with Masías and that all actions complied with internal procedures.
In Spain, such labor disputes are becoming increasingly visible. Recently, the Supreme Court considered the issue of significant legal costs linked to the dismissal of a former prosecutor, which attracted widespread attention. Details of this case can be found in the report on why the prosecutor’s office demands the annulment of court costs.
Context and similar cases
In recent years, Spain has seen a rise in cases where employees of government bodies and large private companies face pressure after reporting violations. In 2025, Madrid was at the center of a dispute over the dismissal of a municipal employee following their complaint about corruption. The court later ruled the dismissal unlawful, requiring the company to reinstate the employee and pay compensation. In Catalonia, there have also been instances where whistleblowers were granted protection against dismissal, although this did not always prevent pressure from management. Such cases raise questions about the actual effectiveness of mechanisms protecting workers’ rights and highlight the need for reforms in this area.
